Huck's escape

             Many children sometimes dream of running away from home. Then, did Huck actually “escape” from his father, or was it just a childhood dream of running away?

After Huck’s father took him from the widow and kept him in the forest, his father gets drunk very often and beats him, and he even tries to kill him. The house was rather a jail than a home to Huck. Huck did not have his own life, and he felt that his life is threatened. It was rather an escape than a dream or longing. Huck could not endure his father’s violence and curse. Huck escaped for his own life and liberty. He feels so much better in nature with Jim, and he fines his happiness while they go down the river and have a trip in nature. He finds his true life after he ran away.

Huck’s father’s violent was consistent and harsh, So he was able to decide to escape from such an authoritarian father. His decision was more than just a mischief; it was a decision for his life.

The Two Hearts of Society

In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck pretends to be a girl and goes to Mrs. Loftus’ house to see what’s going on in the town. Mrs. Loftus finds out that Huck is a boy and asks him why he is here. Huck tells her that he ran away from his uncle’s farm, and Mrs. Loftus wants to help Huck. On the other hand, she wants to capture Jim, who is a runaway slave, to get the prize.

In this scene, we can see the two sides of society through Mrs. Loftus. Because of her cultural background, she considers capturing Jim from slavery as a good deed, which is to take away a human being’s freedom. But she also wants to help a poor white guy who also tries a human being’s freedom by running away from the farmer! But she does not realize that she is racist because she is so steeped in her culture. It shows that how generous the society was towards white people, and how harsh the people were to slaves. We also see that Mrs. Loftus tries to catch Jim, who has a price of two hundred dollars. She wants to get the award, but she wants to help Huck who has no award. Thus, Mrs. Loftus’ two faces about the award shows people’s greed as well.

Huck and Jim!

I draw it :) my camera automatically makes it smooth so I can't really see well though..haha

Similarities between Huck and Jim

In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck and Jim are the main characters that travel around and make the story dramatic. They are the best partners because they have lots of similarities.

             Even though Huck is white and Jim is black, they have similar place in society. Huckleberry does not have a mother and was raised by his father, and Jim is a slave. Both of them are not well-educated. Even though Huck got a new home, he does not want to learn manners and is more comfortable with the wild than the house. And due to the nature of slavery, Jim could not learn.

             Jim and Huck also has similar personalities. Both of them like to challenge and adventure. They used to play in the forest pretending to be thieves. And they are both somewhat intelligent and circumspection especially in the moment that they escaped. But they have preposterous aspects, too. Jim and Huck believe in superstitions whether true or not. Superstitions are part of their life, and they use superstitions a lot during their journey.

             They also had similar plights. Huck was in trouble because his father tried to take his money, and Jim was in a plight because his owner tried to sell him for money. They were victims of money in an aspect. In addition, they were not physically free. Huck was not physically free when his father took him to the house in the forest, and Jim was not either because he is a slave.

             Huck and Jim make a team and travel together. They support each other and are good friends even though their races are different and their home environment is different. Their cooperation is coming through the story, and they make a good team encouraging each other.

Pop in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

             Huck’s father has long, tangled, greasy hair. His eyes are shining through as though he was behind vines. His whiskers were long and mixed-up. And his white face makes a body sick. In a word, he looks strange and creepy. And his action is even creepier than his appearance.

             Pop suddenly comes to Huck because he heard that Huck got rich. And Pop gets really upset about Huck getting an education and forces Huck not to learn. He curses Huck and asks him for money. He even has recourse to law to take Huck and his money. He hits Hick several times because he does not quit going to school. Huck’s father takes Huck and starts living in the wild with him. He often gets drunk and hits Huck, and he swears at Huck or hits him. He even tries to kill Huck, so Huck escapes from him.

             It is ironic that Huck’s “father” took him from the widow who taught Huck and tried to raise him right. Even after Huck escapes from his father, Pop only asks the judge for Huck’s money to buy drink. This is ridiculous that to him, a bottle of whiskey is as valuable as his son or even more valuable! What is more, as a father, he should help him learn. But he is very violent and authoritarian to Huck because Huck wears good clothes and learns manners and how to read. In this story, he presents the worst father figure.